Mail-box.



W. E. JENKS.

MAIL BOX- APPLICATION FILED APR. I. 1914.

Patented July 20, 1915.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO-IWASHINGTON. u. c,

arr-an WILLARD E. JENKS, OF CHEROKEE, IOWA.

MAIL-Box.

iaaaeao.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2@, 1915.

- Application filed April 1, 1914. Serial No. 828,818.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LWILLARD E. JENns, a citizen or the United States, residing at Cherokee, in the county of Cherokee, State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved mail box.

An object of the invention is to provide a box which will be easily opened by a person without thenecessity of unlatching small latches.

A further object of the invention is to -pro vide automatically operated means which is swung into position to receive a letter when the door of the box is opened.

With the above and other objects in view such as will appear as the description progresses, my invention comprises the combination and arrangement of parts as herein set forth and subsequently claimed.

Referring to the drawing; Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device in place upon a supporting shelf with the door in closed po sition. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the door in open position. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4L4 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters wherein similar parts are indicated by similar characters, mydevice comprises a box 1 proper having. a door 2 pivoted thereto by hinges 3 along one of its vertical edges. Pivoted on the side of the box opposite to that on which the door is hinged at 4 is a lever 5 having a handle 6 on its upper end and extending vertically downwardly from the pivot. To this lower end is pivotally connected a link 7. On the under side of the box are two bearings 8 extending transversely across the box and in which is pivoted a bar 9 having an upstanding projection 10 at one of its ends which extends up one side of the box and is connected at 11 to the link 7. Formed on the other end of the bar 9 and extending downwardly therefrom is another projection 12 to which is pivotally connected a lever 13, the extremity 14 of one arm of which is pivotally connected to the middle part of the lower edge of the door.

The foregoing mechanism is constructed to operate the door to open or close the same and its operation is as follows :Whenthe operator is facing the door of the box and pulls the lever 5 toward him the rod 9 is rotated in its bearings 8 through the link 7 and the downwardly extending projection 12 of the said rod is moved forwardly toward the operator. This pushes the lever forwardly and the door is swung open about 1ts hinges as a pivot. It is only necessary to reverse the operation when it is desired to close the door of the box.

On the inside of the door is pivotally supported at 14 a letter holder which comprises a base plate 15 and a member 16 pivotally secured to the front face thereof and held in engagement with the said face by a spring 17 To one of the lower corners of this holder at 18 is secured a coil spring 19, the other end of which is secured at 20 to the inside of one of the vertical sides of the box. When the door is thrown open the spring 19 operates to oscillate the letter holder about its pivot id to extend the receiving end outwardly beyond the edge of the door to facilitate the insertion of letters between the base plate 15 and the member 16. When the door is closed by the operating mechanism the said letter holder swings into its normal position so that the door may be readily closed.

It may be seen from the foregoing description that I have provided a device which will facilitate the opening of the door thereof and which will obviate the necessity of prying at small latches when the hands are cold to allow the door to swing open. I have further provided means which will automatically swing into such position that the insertion of a letter therein will be greatly facilitated.

I do not wish to be limited to the particular construction of my invention shown, for the drawing is merely for the sake of illustration and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is 1. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a mail box and a door hinged thereto of a letter receiver including a base plate pivoted at its intermediate portion to the door, a spring clip mounted thereon, and a spring secured to the lower end of the base plate, and to the box.

2. A device of the class described coma lever pivotally connected tosaid last mentioned projection and to the lower edge of the door between the sides thereof.

prising a mail box, a door hingedly connectcd thereto and adapted to swing in a,

horizontal plane, a lever pivoted between its ends to the side of said box, a link connected In testimony whereof, I affix my signa- 5 to the lower em; oif1 szltoid leveirgha rod pivoted ture, in the presence of two witnesses.

to the bottom 0 t e ox an aving an upstanding projection on one end thereof WILLARD JENKS' which is pivotally connected to the aforel/Vitnesses: mentioned link, a downwardly extending JAMES H. WARE, 10 projection on the other end of said rod, and T. H. STEELE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained forfive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G, 

